Custom SkyLab StarDuster CB Tribander: The Ultimate Antenna Build and Test

I showcase a custom-built tribander antenna that has been designed to cover the 15m, 12m, 11m, and 10m bands. The antenna was built as part of a 60-foot custom build contest antenna and was put to the test during CQWW, making 500 contacts inside 8 hours on 10m band. The video shows the entire build process and results. The antenna can also be used on the 11m / CB band, but that will be covered in another video.Previous videos in this series:
▶️ • The Ultimate CB / 11m ... - The original Idea
▶️ • Making a CB SkyLab des... - Making the "contraption"
73, Callum, M0MCX. DX Commander.
More videos:
▶️ • Antenna Modelling Antenna Modelling
▶️ • Tips and Tricks Tips and Tricks
▶️ • Antennas Antennas
▶️ • Live Streams Live Streams
▶️ • Commander World My Stuff
▶️ • Foundation Training Ham Radio Training

[@dwaynehoffmann8538]

This is a great piece of videography! I could fee the success and sense of accomplishment!!! The success of a working prototype and the success of telling the story !!! Keep up the great work!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Wow, thank you!

[@normanweiz2646]

Callum... You are a Ham's ham. You never fail to amaze. I am sure I am not the only one to think this of you. Well done. You make us antenna guys proud.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah that was a FUN project!

[@DustInTheWindAZ]

Ok, I see what you did there! I thought you would somehow convert a "standard" Starduster to a tri-band. but instead, you utilized the functionality of the DX Commander to recreate it, moving the ground and radiator plates up the mast, and using the guy wires to double as radials (or is it vice-versa?)! BRILLIANT!

[@arconeagain]

My best contact on a quarter wave on 27mhz was to Ireland (from Melbourne), with 12W pep, 6s to 7db. The same station later jumped up to 30 over 9, so I'm sure I could have hit him harder. Conditions sure, but you can't bag the antenna. This was a good build, right up my alley. I wish I could still do it.

[@GordonHudson]

I was working 15m in CQWW with my son while watching you live on KZbin on 10m. The 10m antenna worked very well for you. Not surprising given the height and the low angle of radiation. I actually made a ground plane on a fishing pole and had it on the side of the house I owned from 1996-2003. It worked really well but it had the more traditional multiple tuned radials.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah! OK!

[@seanwood8043]

Prototype Antenna is awesome ! Might not go into production but gives us regular radio guys a great example of what can be accomplished when take your time and think things through. Thanks again for sharing the journey over last few years sir!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Inspiration Sean! That's the spirit!

[@Superacerc]

Antenna work is such a fulfilling use of time. I love it. Hoping to add length to my 20m vertical this weekend and take it to 40m length at about 60' height.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great!

[@YLRaisa]

I watched the whole movie! cool you did with the installation of the Extended Commander! Too bad I couldn't help on the spot.😆 I was glad to hear you in the contest. 😉

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes Raisa, I have NEW idea this week.. I am making adjustments tomorrow! Nice to hear you 5 and 9 in contest :)

[@thork0tjt515]

All around great job Callum and Loki! 73, Thor

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thor.. Fab name. Loki would approve!

[@LuCiFeRSDS]

That has to be one of the most insanely awesome antenna builds ever ;)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It was certainly fun!

[@JacobNewmen]

I've seen this video for about the tenth time, and to be honest, I go to watch it sometimes, I experience a slight excitement when I watch it, like when I was building my first antennas thirty years ago. It is a masterpiece, both the documentation and the antenna itself. It will be a great pleasure for me to become its owner. The soundtrack reminds me of the Apollo 11 landing. And my first encounter with sci-fi movies. I've built my 12M vertical on a similar principle, so I'm not worried about the challenge, I just have to process my wife, because the number of mooring lines in three directions is more than her patience with me.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Jacob (I think that is your name) - It also gives me much pleasure.. I am building a lot of vertical arrays right now - my priorities changed on a temporary basis - but we will bring this back..!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

(later) .. OK.. I have finally watched the whole thing again.. You prompted me due to your comment.. Between day -3 to day -1 there was a lot of thinking and testing and contemplating - and it brought it all back to me.. It is truly quite a lovely record of my achievement, thank you for riding along with me.. Best 73. Callum.

[@JacobNewmen]

sometimes it's good to look back, there's a lot of work behind it. And it's damn big!! This should not be forgotten.@@DXCommanderHQ

[@markramsay6399]

Looking forward to this! Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy SSB QSO and WSPR / FT8 etc, but I realise that the build and setting up / tinkering is what I really enjoy (despite not being that great at DIY). I loved setting up my DX Commander and getting all the radials set in. Last night I did all the SWR measurements again on each band, because I can, and they were looking good. Mark, 2E0MSR

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice one Mark!

[@jimkeappock7558]

Got to tell you, that is one monumental production for one person!! Respect, from across the big pond!!

[@toddthepanamericanbrooks888]

I really like that you figured out the 'Bow' or 'Banana' top to separate the elements. Probably anything else at the top would have had too much loading!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes. Another good accident!

[@g0mtnlee]

This deserves a comment. Firstly, top quality video - I understand now why there was so much raw footage. Great detail with the build. Useful practical drone footage to show what it looks like at height. And lots of slick editing all the way through. For the on air performance - it's made me rethink about the benefits of 'verticals at height' with the change in take off angle. For the weekend live streams I spent some time watching you with the sound off as I was busy with the contest myself - but it was a good motivator for me looking at your rate and QSO count! Certainly you were loud enough into the US that we were matching rate - I was using a 2 ele at 40 feet. A grand experiment - pleased it was successful!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

2 ele at 40 feet.. Yes I would think similar gain.. Good analysis.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Sorry Lee, I was extremely busy doing comments and didn't realise this was from you.. You will have to come over one day when you have a day off and cast your eye over everythng. It would be cool to get some ideas off you.. Glad I was motivating you too.. Remember back in 2014? I made over 1,000Qs that weekend. CQWPX I think.. But I spent more time in the chair. I only did 9-hours this time.

[@Tommy_Boy.]

🤘 The antenna that commands a Commander! 👍📻⚡️ Beautifully done Callum! 73 sir.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Many thanks!

[@DukeDave1]

thank-you Callum. I like your work and thought process perhaps I've missed it or you'll explain it another time. all the best old man hi hi :)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I will do a tear-down video explaining everything sometime. Hang on..

[@owen6760]

Great show last night. I couldn't watch it all as I had to get up early but thanks so much for doing this.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@deletemeforevs]

Wow.... you knocked it out of the park wwith this re-design!!!!!!!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Tnx!

[@pbk380]

Well, Callum you took my Double Dog dar, and you did it. Performance looked very good. If you do ever go into production, I would love to have one of the early ones keep me posted. You have a great evening and a better tomorrow 73 Paul.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

HAHA Yes!!

[@PFreet]

I love everything about this hybrid system. Truly awesome...that's from a 40 year ham, and 1970's CB operator. lol...

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, that was a fun one..!

[@Simon-qn5wm]

Great updated design of the old Starduster, very well engineered & performing very well.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes.. Lot of fun.

[@dondonaldson1684]

It takes determination and a lot of thought to do what you do.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Lots of fun though!

[@BenButler1]

Great video Cal! Looks like it works well. That is a great feeling when you get an antenna to work like you want it to.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes it does!

[@AndyAAzeroAM]

Loved it, fantastic job! Not only the antenna but the quality of the video too. Well done! I hope after Hollywood hires you and Loki to film movies you still have time to ship those Commanders :)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

ALways have time to ship product! :)

[@erpece]

Wow - that pole is a whopper. Enjoyed the vid and kudos to Loki for the nice footage! 👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks 👍

[@redjohn20001]

Err wow! Nice one Callum. It really seems to perform. Thanks for all your efforts and the video.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

My pleasure!

[@mikesmith5139]

Hi Callum, Thank you for an excellent video. What a terrific antenna and great demonstration! 73, Mike, M0MTJ

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Many thanks!

[@davidc5027]

He finally decided to do it... an elevated vertical.. the way verticals can and should be IMHO :) Nice job! When this hits the markets people living in populated or heavily wooded areas should be very happy with the performance.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Got to be at least a wavelength to make much of a difference though..

[@davidc5027]

@@DXCommanderHQ For your situation being in the middle of a field that may be absolutely true. As for me, I live in a crowded neighborhood, and I do build my own antenna's, and I've tested both ground and elevated verticals, and the elevated wasn't a wavelength, but still made a good difference in performance. I'd say the feedpoint was 15-20 feet in the air. These days with technology it is much easier to find a winning combination when it comes to antenna performance.

[@richardpowell723]

Superb… Another great product, very well executed. Performance fully demonstrated and proven live to the world. A smart and brave decision. Congratulations. M0DSK

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you very much!

[@vicmiller7191]

That is one tall antenna 📡 and I love the results from your contacts list. This bad boy can really stretch out there and get some good DX. It does look a bit heavy on top, but your guy wire methods are right on point. Great job and thanks for sharing. 73 Vic KE8JWE

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, without guying, it would be a disaster!

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

What a beast! Well worth the effort...and no extra charge for the physical workout! 😁 Well done you.👍👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you 😁

[@aquatekt1402]

I have antenna envy right now . I feel sure this will out perform all the previous builds. Very well done thanks.

[@timprice1284]

Excellent video. The antenna kicks butt and takes names too. You do pretty work Callum! 73s ND4A

[@Will_N4WIL]

😮. Impressive build. Can’t wait to see what you come up with next.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah, that was great fun!

[@cotharyus]

Fascinating to see the work process. I have a "Radio Neighbor" on 11 meters whose favorite ground plane is star duster. Strange looking things, but his always seems to work well.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah-ha!!

[@TRIPPLEJAY00]

Pure wow factor, I hope you had fun building it Callum as much as I enjoyed watching. You have never failed to impress us.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah, it was worth the effort..

[@Dusty_Ham]

Wow that's a beast! Great video, it's like watching a nature documentary about antennas (that's a compliment)!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Awe thanks!!!!

[@EmileighStarbrook]

It was delightful working you on 10M in CQWW - if you were using this antenna - it was great. I will try to send you the file for my 2ele 10m wire beam - you might find it fun also (only 1/2m between the director and the active element)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, 2-ele beams don't need wide spacing :)

[@jasonodette8607]

Fantastic video quality 👏 thanks for all you do Cal . It was a great weekend watching in the contest !

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Jason, lovely comment. Thank you so much.

[@jasonodette8607]

@@DXCommanderHQ no worries Cal 👍

[@YllaStar95970]

That clamp on the drill press pays for itself, in saved time.👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I got a deal on that years ago!

[@mikebzl1mjb293]

Cal that’s one beast of an antenna. Hats off to you!! Very impressive.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hiya Mike.. Yep it was fun.

[@klartajanssen4368]

You did a Great Job ! And with all that patience!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Joe-KN4IFI]

Outstanding antenna design and build Callum. Fantastic cinematography. Great job and well done. 73 Joe

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Awe thank old friend!

[@3dPrint_and_chill]

That's awesome, I really need to throw up some new antennas before winter hits hard. Thanks for the inspiration Cal.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah cool!

[@carlubambi5541]

Can't wait to see the whole build .Radio is fun .Unfortunately I don't have a location for it today .If I get a pick up truck I will be putting a tail gate mount .My friend built a mount on the rear rack and would drive down to Sunnyside beech in Toronto on the north shore of Lake Ontario near the Humber river .He had an Antron 99 at the tail gate and a 102 inch whip mounted to the bumper .He used a 10 ft length of 1 inch EMT conduit and mounted that to the tailgate .Insane how far he could talk at night on AM and on SSB .One night he set it up it was overcast and -20°C snow on the way .He talked to someone in upper New York state ! .It was not Skip.He did have a very good inline receive amplifier .Was using an old relaistic 40 channel ssb .No screwdrivering !Used an Astatic power microphone .

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great memories!

[@aandpman]

Nice! 15m was especially smokin' for me on Saturday... low QSB here. Bet that thing worked fantastic! 73's K5MWA

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice one Mike..

[@M7XCB]

That's fantastic you have Super DX Multiband antenna Bravo. 👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks 👍

[@christophervezeau]

I hope to learn a fraction of the knowledge you have. Just starting out, and I'm in awe.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah, you'll get it..

[@sm3ttz]

Excellent work with drone and ground cameras! Great edit!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you so much!

[@countrichardvonfalconstein5095]

Amazing work! The best antenna builder out there! 5 stars

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you so much!

[@g0fvt]

Glad you built this Callum, it was a fascinating experiment and has me thinking of something similar but different. Certainly it was doing the business at the weekend.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@piquat1]

Wow, that's a really big pole. Put that right up by yourself. Didn't need a blue pill or anything! Bravo!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I take white pills every morning.. 36mg Concerta. Amphetamines! I kid you not :)

[@rudyschaffner6196]

Fantastic video! You put a lot of work into that one. Good job!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes.. I don’t make them like that all the time!

[@hamradiofun5527]

And there I was thinking you were going to build one of those popular SOTA verticals. I like the multiband idea, as soon as the feedpoint is raised I'm sure the gain start's going up... Seem to be sat at least level with the tree tops. I'm sure you have got a good product and will be popular. Well done mate especially on the time window for the CQWW.

[@JxH]

"...as soon as the feedpoint is raised I'm sure the gain start's going up..." Yep, but it's because Loss goes down by getting currents away from dirt. Directivity presumably unchanged. Gain = Directivity - Loss. Elevated for the win. 🙂

[@adam-g7crq]

That was excellent Callum, it's given me some food for thought re a portable antenna to build for 15 meters and above, must say the production of the video is superb as well.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you very much for your kind words Adam.

[@mewrongwayKOCXF]

That looks really awesome Callum!!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah, it was fun!

[@mewrongwayKOCXF]

@@DXCommanderHQ Ever thought about doing a field day at Stonehenge?

[@AndyH--M7FNM]

Great video Cal, loved the production

[@ianharvey868]

Fantastic work for both your engineers skills and loki video shots in bad wind! I got myself the dji mini2 a few months ago and it's a fantastic bit of kit for a "toy with a camera" as the classification goes lol. I did brick my undies the other day where I had plenty of battery left and returning to home point and as I was telling it forward it stopped and started going backwards, eventually getting out of the high winds at about 50ft I was getting about 5mph in sport mode back to me! If loki has the mini2 then if you hold the Fn button and turn the camera gimbal wheel it zooms in n out, something I didn't see in the manual but was in a tips video on KZbin that many people who have just started don't know about :) Anyhow as with that build, there is nothing I can say that you wouldn't have thought about other than making an element for 2m, at that height with a basic lobe that would be great "all-rounder" of local and distance on 2m. So on the idea that you are perhaps going to be putting a classic dxcommander setup underneath it, what's your thoughts on having the capacitive effect caused by the braid from the 7mm coax near by going down the mast frame, i wonder if it would cause some radiation change in the lobe or if it may suck a bit of power out to send it to ground? Another interesting thing is that you may have a passive parisitic antenna like what you spoken about having driven elements forward but in this case stacked? What would this look like on the antenna software program out of curiosity being stacked lol Again I'm sure you have already thought of this and may have even started to make the next video with some of this as your thoughts lol

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ian too many topics for one comment!! 😆 Yes Mini 2 good. Coax up pole.. We will find out.

[@grumpy_ken]

the antenna build is impressive and so is the countryside

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah, that antenna had some legs.. I need to revisit this..

[@darz3]

Watching this build, superb fun, Thanks Callum

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yep, a lot of fun!

[@kishor_VU2MZT]

GREAT VIDEO CAL ,, HUGE ANTENNNAA ,,,, NICE VIDEO PRESENTATION , GOOD PERFORMANCE

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Very kind thank you!

[@TonyM7CVK]

Nice one Cal as always very interested in this project top quality presentation and video work to you all.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you very much.

[@regularguy519]

Good stuff. Thank you for the 10+ hours it probably took you just to video edit all of this for us to learn from.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Maybe double it :)

[@MW6PNW]

Amazing work as usual. More patience than any saint ever known. So glad to see you had good results as myself was a bit dubious by the amount of weight you was putting up so high. Bravo good sir, bravo 👏

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes thanks! I happened to know that pole is VERY strong - and pretty heavy too...

[@davidbinkowski4825]

I think the weight has much less relevance when you consider all those guy lines. The weight is stacked on the pole like a mile high stack of dinner plates, but those guy lines look properly massive and they are stabilizing the entire stack by simply keeping the pole straight. And wind loading should be very light on such a thin straight line (the mast). Gah, imagine if physics required solid dish shaped objects to communicate (like satellite dishes). That would complicate things alot.

[@leo3times]

Excellent build Cal, and in a short time. Nicely done. 👍🏻

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Tnx!

[@BrokenSignal]

Never thought I would like a silent movie but here I am :)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

HAHA!

[@MAV8865]

Cracking Video Cal.. you never disappoint mate!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Tnx!

[@James_Bowie]

Great effort and fantastic visuals!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Tnx!

[@kevinaponte7078]

Looks great cal as always great innovation from a great antenna man 73 your friend Kd9dle

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you Kevin!

[@thuff3207]

Way cool and yes that was fun to see work.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hey tnx!

[@will6051]

WOW you have a grate big area to work.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, lucky.. I pay for it though :)

[@normangarland6558]

Your Genius is showing again!!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Not sure about genius.. Just slightly mad!

[@normangarland6558]

@@DXCommanderHQ All Geniuses were slightly mad!! You are in a good way though.

[@billybiker1383]

Hi Callum, watched the video this morning after my 4am start. Great video and thank you for sharing. I was in the process of making one similar for my 11m mobile set up but if this does go in to production I would want one to complement my 12m DX Commander pole :)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes it would be easy on 12m..

[@kevinaponte7078]

Love it definitely has great ears and transmit great job

[@genoa1979]

Fantastic this antenna is dream at moment

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, it was INCREDIBLE

[@jgstevens5169]

D@mn... You and Mike are geniuses. I follow both of your channels

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Awe thanks!!

[@markhill9912]

I was a bit nervous raising my 43' vertical by myself. I could see dollar signs flying out of my hands the more I got committed into the raise, lol. Well, it all worked out except for the wasps stinging my legs during the raising, I could not stop or lower it back down, had to endure each sting until it was in place and secure. I did go to my shop for a can of wasp spray and took care of that minor irritation immediately, lol.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OMG Mark! But you are right, there is a moment when you just need to get on with it!

[@jimjungle1397]

This looks great!

[@olivierconet7995]

Simply excellent and creative, on the way to erect it completely alone. Very clever.

[@JEFF-Elliott]

🎉 simply, I love this, it is fantastic.

[@joeblow8593]

Outstanding Cal, thanks.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hey! Tnx!

[@JimbobandJo]

Tis a thing of beauty

[@DXCommanderHQ]

There's a song there...!

[@mrkultra1655]

Nice work, thanks

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you too!

[@johnratcliffe6438]

Excellent stuff! 🍻

[@m0mseadventureradionstuff329]

Nice job Cal very impressive antenna. I'll have to come and use yours I don't have the space here lol. (I know I keep saying I'll come over lol)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Do it!

[@speedymartin2]

What a beast!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah, it's fun! Took it down for Part 2 :)

[@frankmarks3595]

You need another pole beside the antenna with a pully at the top and boat winch at the bottom. Some easy to crank up and down

[@DXCommanderHQ]

That is the falling derek method works well. Done that before..

[@peterlowrie1216]

Sagely advice on the guy line and not over tightening them. I threw up an emergency two radial 15m version for the contest and ended up snapping a guy off. D'oh!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Agh!

[@matteoc1114]

too cool !!! I gotta try this

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Seriously incredible.. I need to get this back up it was amazing.

[@arkyump]

I like your vision.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Its scary being me!

[@arkyump]

@@DXCommanderHQ Sometimes you need to be scary. K0CCP

[@richlevenson6605]

You're my new idol!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

HAHA.. I'll be putting this back up in the summer!

[@warrenphillips69]

I like how it went from Bladerunner synth to an episode of Vikings.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Oh yes!!! 😆

[@chrisvernon960]

Good signal on 10m to VO1CH during contest.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Chris! Thanks for reports and qsos

[@andye2005]

interesting build.... I would guess with the number of times you need to take the DX poles down and up it's hard work let alone for just this build! Have you considered using a small winch to save your back? H hammer in a socket tube some distance away from your bottom pivot and then when needed drop in a pole with a small winch attached (obviously a powered one) You could then have a remote control switch for it, and it could do the lifting while you just guided the DX into place. Andy

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Winch? Nope. Just a case of being slow and careful.

[@stevegriffin9552]

Hey Callum, what excellent video and I love the aerial shots just beautiful. I am so amazed on how much bending that your poles can take. I know it is an antenna but it looks like a piece of artwork in the air. It looks like it just performs marvelous. Great job and the video work again was just perfect. Thanks for sharing. WD5ENH Steve

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Steve.. I am also amazed!!

[@TheBicycleGuy]

I'm very excited about this design and using it on my 18m mast. Please let us know if everything works out with tuning. I'll be drilling aluminum soon! Craig - WE2DX

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I promise to keep you posted. Some tinkering left to do yet..

[@shropshireladoutdoors743]

Alot of work went into that callum but is does work

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yep.. A fine project.

[@bassmanjr100]

Hey Calum you have convinced me and one of your antennas is going in my 'garden' someday. I am in Tennessee and we can get some wicked storms in the spring. Do you have a wind speed that you would typically drop your antennas down? How do you take them down. Just unhook the guys and lay them down. Thx.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK, .. so LOTS of them survive major storms.. But we do a "break it and we'll supply another" for about half price. So don't worry too much. If you REALLY have a mega storm brewing, yeah, unhook it, lay it down and run inside!

[@shannonestep5506]

Nice video, plus a bonus, I made into the video at the end, KW4LU.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

YES!